Trump Announces AI Accord with Tech Leaders for Self-Regulation

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he and leaders from various artificial intelligence companies signed a voluntary accord aimed at implementing internal and external reviews of AI technology during a meeting at the White House. Trump stated, "I think I'm seeing tremendous self-policing. And they understand that they have to self-police," while addressing reporters outside the West Wing. The announcement followed a meeting with executives from major tech firms investing heavily in AI infrastructure, which has faced grassroots opposition due to concerns over data centers in local communities. Some executives have called for a slowdown in AI development following incidents involving AI agents behaving unpredictably. Earlier in the day, Trump assured that the U.S. government would not impose limitations on AI development or support calls for regulatory measures. "I will never stifle the growth of a technology that will be bigger than the industrial revolution," Trump remarked during the unveiling of an AI chatbot, America.gov, designed to assist Americans with government services. Top AI executives present at the meeting included Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Greg Brockman (president of OpenAI), Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon), and Elon Musk (whose platform X includes its own AI model, Grok). Trump’s optimistic stance on AI contrasts with concerns raised by some executives, including Amodei, who have advocated for a cautious approach to AI development. Other executives, such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, have minimized fears regarding AI risks, emphasizing corporate responsibility for product safety. Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and House Speaker Mike Johnson also attended the meeting. Trump indicated that the AI chatbot could streamline processes like applying for a passport online, eliminating the need for in-person visits. After the meeting, Trump highlighted a consensus on self-regulation among AI developers and mentioned existing oversight from the Department of Justice and the FBI. He also noted that AI executives agreed to address local opposition to data centers by providing financial support to schools or reducing energy costs. Trump suggested that if opposition persists, data centers may relocate overseas. Additionally, OpenAI's Sam Altman stated in a recent interview that the company is prioritizing safety, having paused the rollout of a new model due to safety concerns. Trump characterized the AI development race as a competition between the U.S. and China, asserting that the U.S. is currently leading. He expressed reluctance to cooperate with China, stating, "I didn't want to do anything, because we're leading. Why would I want to do anything?"